Hi,

I am seriously wanting to join the USCG. I am just waiting for a call back from my local recruiting office (they are apparently so busy that I had to leave a message, they don't talk to people on the phone.)

Anyway...I just had some general questions first.

1. I've heard that there is something about a debt/income ratio. Is that for everyone enlisting? Do they check credit?

2. Will a married man get to go home nightly after basic (in A school)?


I have so many more questions, but I just wanted to get these answered first before a recruiter finds the time to call me.

#1 especially; if I can't get in because my credit is not good enough...that would leave a very bad taste for me.

Please let me know any information you have.
Thank you.

So if it is more than 30%, there is no way possible to join active duty?

If this is true, my hopes for a secure future for my family is gone.

If it is more than 30% it will disqualify you. You need to talk to a recruiter and have him put the numbers into our program. Basic pay and housing allowance are both included in that 30%. If a recruiter in your area will not get back to you, let me know and I will check it for you.

quote:

So if it is more than 30%, there is no way possible to join active duty?

If this is true, my hopes for a secure future for my family is gone.

Some of your questions were answered in another thread. From what you've posted with your current situation, you are more than likely over the 30%.

Remember, the Coast Guard did not incur your debt, you did. You can't live on Coast Guard pay and have a ton of bills. All you will do is worry about how you will pay bills which will effect your ability to do your job right.

Coast Guard also does a credit check on each applicant. Coast Guard is part of Department of Homeland Security so it's tougher to get into. CPO Kalbach

Well my debt/income is definately more than 30%.

90% of America's is.
With the money that my wife and I would make while in the Coast Guard, our mortgage alone puts us over 30%. Not to add the cars and utilities.

It seems the only people that can get into the Coast Guard are single, just out of high school kids that still live at home and have no bills.

No chance for the working kind.

quote:

Well my debt/income is definately more than 30%.

90% of America's is.
With the money that my wife and I would make while in the Coast Guard, our mortgage alone puts us over 30%. Not to add the cars and utilities.

It seems the only people that can get into the Coast Guard are single, just out of high school kids that still live at home and have no bills.

No chance for the working kind.

Not at all, I've put plenty of married folks in that met the debt/income ration. I myself had to meet that ratio 16 years ago.

CPO Kalbach

quote:

Originally posted by manoguitar:
Well my debt/income is definately more than 30%.

90% of America's is.
With the money that my wife and I would make while in the Coast Guard, our mortgage alone puts us over 30%. Not to add the cars and utilities.

It seems the only people that can get into the Coast Guard are single, just out of high school kids that still live at home and have no bills.

No chance for the working kind.

What type of career field are you looking into with the USCG? Chances are the same career field will be available in another branch of the service, one that doesn't care about debt to income ratio. (Army)

A quick google search led me to this paragraph....


All potential enlistees fill out a Statement of Financial Obligations/Spouse Consent form (CG 4891). Recruiters turn away those individuals whose financial situation exceeds a 30% debt load ratio unless there are extenuating circumstances, which are then resolved on a case by case basis. Credit checks prior to enlistment have been discussed but the present decision is not to use them due to the cost for this service. All recruits attend a class on financial planning during the fifth week of training. The instructor covers the importance of managing and the skills necessary to manage the following elements of personal finances: budget; direct deposit; checking account; credit/bankcards; and deposits/withdrawals. Additionally, the instructor advises recruits of the consequences of financial mismanagement. Recruits who indicate a need for counseling and intervention (triggered by self-admission, making it incumbent upon recruits choosing to be fully truthful in revealing problems) or who have been identified as at-risk by pre-screening, are referred to one of Cape May's financial management counselors for assistance. Discharge is an option for handling extreme cases which are not deemed manageable. Flag Voice 87 discusses financial management assistance options -- counseling and education -- available to help all of us improve our financial situations.


Now I am NOT a Coast Guard Recruiter, nor am I in the CG, however I have been a military recruiter and my experience tells me to interpret this paragraph as.....

1) There are waivers available for the case by case situation.

2) They are not actually doing credit checks, just going off what you tell them.

3) By YOU enlisting into the USCG, that doesn't give anyone the right to question, or check your wife's credit. In other words, no one will question what you wife's income is to offset the income/debt ratio.

4) If I'm wrong refer to my previous post.

Coast Guard people please confirm if I am accurate.

Sir,
Few changes to what you found. As of about two months ago we run a credit check on all applicants prior to them shipping to basic training. Currently bad credit outside of the 30% (ie. late payments) is not a DQ but I believe that will also be factored in very soon. Also I believe they will start to look at amount of debt and not just payment amount. Someone can correctly if I am wrong but I was taught that spouse income does not count towards the 30%. You are going to be recieving a transfers and who is to say your spouse will find a job and how much that will be. Need to be able to survive will her looking for work. MK1

There is a spot for spouse's income on the Financial Obligations sheet, so it counts. Here's the thing about that; we won't run an applicant's spouse's credit, but we can spot something fishy when its near us. If the numbers don't look realistic, they probably aren't.
If someone is joining the Coast Guard and owns a house, they're going to have a tough time making it work. If you are applying for a job in a different state, you can't realistically pay for a mortgage as well. If you have a tenant that pays rent on the house, you can put that into your financial obligations worksheet. Tenants don't always work out, though. That means that if your tenant falls through, you are stuck with a house note that you will not be able to afford. That means you become a burden to your unit because you have to work out your personal issues and/or fall into an indebtedness situation.
If I got off on a rant here, I apologize. It seemed like the OP was looking for a job that is a little less life changing than the Coast Guard. You have to available for worldwide assignment and you don't get to go home every night.